MARIBOR, Slovenia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Reigning world champion Sonja Nef of Switzerland, skiing one of her favorite courses, captured a World Cup giant slalom by 1.53 seconds over local teenager Tina Maze on Friday.
Racing in sunny, 15-degree weather, Nef led both runs and finished with a combined time of 2 minutes, 21.48 seconds for her second giant slalom victory this winter.
Nef, who won in Maribor a year ago and was second here in 2000, dominated the giant slalom last season with six World Cup wins, including five in a row.
Maze posted the third-fastest second run and moved up three places to finish with a time of 2.23.01. Stina Hofgard-Nilsen of Norway was third in 2:23.12.
Sarah Schleper of Vail, Colo., overcame a near-spill to finish 10th in 2:23.96. Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria, who leads the overall standings, was 23rd in 2:24.61.
The Cafe de Colombia tour continues through the weekend with slaloms Saturday and Sunday.
